Awakened: Buhongwa, Day One

September 23, 2012 Journal entry

It's after midnight and I really should be sleeping! The hydro is out again and it is hot and muggy - I haven't really felt the muggyness of Tanzania until this night. It has been hot, but it's a dry heat really. I'm missing the breeze from my fan tonight - hoping the hydro comes on sometime tonight.

I have been battling the internet stick, trying to gain access to the net and I just keep running into obstacle after obstacle. Maybe we aren't meant to be online here! I so wish we could share in "real time" though what we are experiencing here. I tried calling customer support for Airtel (the Tanzanian internet company the stick modem is from), but that didn't go so well...I lost my patience and hung up! Bad!!

Today was a great clinic day with a wonderful pace - we saw about 100 people and it gave an opportunity to truly connect with someone - see their face in Pharmacy (we are no longer in a "cage" as such, but in a large open room, divided by fabric), to truly smile with them and see their smile in return. I was grateful - we were all grateful for the change today.

The staff today from Urafiki were: Matari, Edah, Aron, Dr. Mukulla, Dr. Dany, Modesta, Rehema. What a wonderful bunch! Aron, Modesta and Rehema rode in the van with our team. We sang on the way there - Swahili and English worship songs. Aron taught us a new Swahili song on the return trip home - I just can't remember the melody. I thought I recorded us singing, but apparently not :( We will sing it again, I have no doubt.

This evening we had a beautiful time of sharing and prayer together as a team - what an amazing groups of women this is! I keep saying that, but it is so true. Thank you, Lord! Tomorrow, we are off to Nygezi to Pastor Julius' church (who translates for us at times, and translated the whole retreat time for Ellen) - I look forward to it immensely!

Memories from today (shared by the team):

The 12 year old boy with cardiac issues who was too tired to even play. We are hoping he will return with a parent on Monday so that we can assess him further and perhaps get him a consult.
The young Mom I helped consult with who had some sort of breast infection or irritation - in Africa, breastfeeding is really not an option...there is no other way to support your child nutritionally, and so having difficulty with breastfeeding is a potentially dangerous thing.
The Mom with 2 little boys, Melik and Daniel - giving them these little knitted dolls we had - the smiles and joy! (photo to follow)
Ellen and Edah praying with a young girl and her Mother and both of them knowing great freedom through that!
sucking on my jolly rancher and thinking, "something isn't quite right" and then realzing that part of the wrapper was melted on it and I was still sucking away on it! (gave us all a good laugh!)
Climbing up on the big tall rock, looking down below and feeling like Mufasa in The Lion King!
Getting a text from my sister during the clinic today! How I love my sister!!
Doing laundry and the line continuing to fall down over and over and over again...ahhh!
More hydro outages
Drinking some sodas at lunch and spending time just hanging out with the Urafiki staff. Matari offering me some of his bread...very yummy.
Sitting with Dany, trying to figure out that darn Airtel stick!
rejoicing in Dallas feeling better!!!

It is time to sleep - if I can. I hope my body just rests now.

Goodnight, sweet Lord. Watch over all those I love.

p.s. when the lights go out in Igoma, it is REALLY dark!! I would LOVE to go outside and star gaze, but I know I should be wise and safe and therefore won't do it. Too bad!!!